Demands are growing for Chancellor Philip Hammond to use his Autumn Statement to reintroduce a second emergency towing vessel (ETV) for Scotland’s islands.
Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan said it was “very unsafe” for there to be just one ETV north of the border.
He pointed to the grounding of an oil rig off the west coast in August as an example of how having a reduced number of boats could lead to a potential environmental catastrophe.
A spokeswoman for the UK Treasury said it would not comment on speculation ahead of the Autumn Statement.
Until 2011, the UK had four emergency towing vessels (ETVs), one each stationed in and around the northern isles, the Western Isles, on the Cornish coast and in the Dover Strait.
Financial cuts left the one vessel – Herakles – in and around Orkney covering both the northern and Western Isles.
The decision was part of the comprehensive spending review package announced in October 2010, based on the UK Government’s judgement about “the balance of risk of pollution in the event of a maritime accident”.
But Mr Allan demanded that decision be reversed when Mr Hammond makes his Autumn Statement on Wednesday.
He said: “Cutting this emergency vessel – against all expert advice and the warnings of the SNP – has proven a very unsafe move.
“The grounding of the Transocean Winner rig (in August) was an accident waiting to happen after the UK Government made these cuts, and the response time of nearly a full day demonstrates the ongoing risk from having only one emergency vessel.
“It is absolutely vital that the Chancellor uses the opportunity of the Autumn Statement to correct this mistake which has put maritime and environmental safety at risk.”
Mr Allan accused the Conservative government of “consistently ignoring” the pleas of the local politicians and industry experts to restore the second ETV.
He added: “The Autumn Statement, Philip Hammond’s first as Chancellor, gives the Tories the chance to reverse this decision – and I urge him to do so in the interests of safety for both our environment and our offshore workers.”
In July the UK Government pledged to extend funding for the Herakles – which is designed to help assist ships in difficulty and safeguard local communities and businesses against potential pollution incidents – for five years.
A UK Government spokeswoman said: “Earlier this year the UK Government was pleased to announce that we would fund the emergency towing vessel in Scotland for a further five years.
“The tug boat is important for maritime safety and protects the Scottish coast from damaging pollution.
“The Maritime and Coastguard Agency undertook a thorough review of Scotland’s emergency towing needs and concluded that one vessel was sufficient.”
